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To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether he
has commissioned research on the potential effect of electro-magnetic waves on levels
of premature deaths in farm animals.

<p>Defra manages an active programme of research to support the health and welfare
of livestock. The research programme focusses on prevention and control of infectious
diseases as well as covering animal welfare issues. There is no current research funded
on electro-magnetic waves and their potential impact from this programme.</p><p> </p><p>Defra
does have a regular, consistent systematic process for identifying and assessing new
threats to animal health and welfare through the Veterinary Risk Group and the issue
has not been raised which could inform future research requirements.</p>

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps
the Government is taking to (a) support local authorities managing and tackling elm
disease and (b) ensure that Brighton and Hove City Council has adequate support to
protect the National Elm Collection in the city.

<p>Landowners are responsible for managing the trees on their land. All Local Authorities,
including Brighton and Hove, have been provided with the legislative powers necessary
to safeguard the nation’s elm population and prevent the spread of elm disease. These
powers are set out in the Dutch Elm Disease (Local Authorities) Order 1984. They allow
officers (appointed by the Local Authority) who suspect the presence of this disease
to enter any land to inspect trees and take samples, and where disease is present,
to take action to eradicate it. Government has a strong risk-based biosecurity response
to reduce the pest and disease risk to trees involving comprehensive international
and domestic surveillance, stringent border biosecurity, robust contingency plans
and world leading research. Government invests over £30million per year on our plant
health service.</p><p> </p>

<p>As with anyone who owns or keeps animals, rescue and rehoming centres are subject
to the provisions of the Animal Welfare Act 2006 which means they must provide for
the animals’ welfare needs and protect them from pain, injury and disease. During
the consultation on whether to ban the third party selling of puppies and kittens,
carried out last year, we included a question about whether rescue and rehoming centres
should be regulated. We need to be confident of the benefits and the impacts of any
regulations placed on rescue and rehoming centres, particularly on some of the smaller
rescues. We will put forward legislative proposals at the earliest possible point,
once we have fully consulted with the sector and understood the impact of any proposals.</p>

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps
his Department is taking to create a centrally accessible database logging pets' microchip
numbers and date of entry into the UK.

<p>It is already a requirement for every dog in the UK to be identified by a microchip
and its details to be recorded on a recognised database. This includes dogs imported
from outside the UK. Defra will shortly be issuing a call for evidence on whether
to introduce compulsory microchipping for all cats in England. Furthermore, all pets
(cats, dogs and ferrets) entering Great Britain on approved routes have their microchip
scanned and recorded by the carrier at the time of travel.</p><p> </p><p>We do not
consider it necessary at this time to introduce an additional database along the lines
proposed.</p><p> </p>

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what recent
discussions he has had with (a) China and (b) countries in east Africa on ending the
international trade in donkey skins; and what recent steps he has taken to help implement
an international ban on the trade in donkey skins.

<p>Defra takes the welfare of donkeys and other equids very seriously and has taken
an active role in global efforts to monitor and strengthen welfare standards for these
species. This included contributing to the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE)
Terrestrial Code chapter on <em>Welfare or Working Equids </em>adopted by OIE members
in 2016, which provides species specific guidance to complement the general welfare
principles applying to all animals. In addition we have contributed to the EU voluntary
initiative developing guidance on responsible ownership and care of equidae. Influencing
the raising of global standards through international fora can be an effective and
sustainable way to address these issues across the world and therefore have a broader
impact than bilateral meetings with particular countries. This is part of the Government’s
strong commitment to strengthening welfare standards.</p>

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, with reference
to the Animal Welfare (Licensing of Activities Involving Animals) (England) Regulations
2018, how many licences have been issued under those regulations in 2019 for (a) breeding
dogs, (b) providing or arranging for the provision of boarding for cats, (c) providing
or arranging for the provision of boarding for dogs in kennels, (d) providing or arranging
for the provision of day care for dogs, (e) hiring out horses, (f) selling animals
as pets and (g) keeping or training animals for exhibition.

<p>Under regulation 29 of <em>The Animal Welfare (Licensing of Activities Involving
Animals) (England) Regulations 2018</em> it is a requirement for local authorities
in England to submit specified information relating to licensable activities in their
respective areas. Such information should be submitted to the Secretary of State by
31 May for each preceding year 1 April to 31 March. Local authorities have submitted
information to the Secretary of State for this year and Defra is analysing the data.
We aim to publish the information later this year.</p>

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, with reference
to The Animal Welfare (Licensing of Activities Involving Animals) (England) Regulations
2018, what the (a) average fee and (b) lowest and highest charges for licences issued
in England in 2019 to date across all local authorities was for (i) breeding dogs,
(ii) providing or arranging for the provision of boarding for cats, (iii) providing
or arranging for the provision of boarding for dogs in kennels, (iv) providing or
arranging for the provision of day care for dogs, (v) hiring out horses, (vi) selling
animals as pets and (vii) keeping or training animals for exhibition.

<p>Under regulation 29 of <em>The Animal Welfare (Licensing of Activities Involving
Animals) (England) Regulations 2018</em> it is a requirement for local authorities
in England to submit specified information relating to licensable activities in their
respective areas. Such information should be submitted to the Secretary of State by
31 May for each preceding year 1 April to 31 March. Local authorities have submitted
information to the Secretary of State for this year and Defra is analysing the data.
We aim to publish the information later this year.</p>

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether the
legal responsibility of local authorities to provide food in a time of crisis extends
to (a) children, (b) people on a low income, (c) elderly people, (d) disabled people
and (e) housebound people.

<p>Food is a critical national infrastructure sector and Defra has lead Government
department oversight of responsibility for food supply in England. The policy is devolved
to Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland in the constitutional settlement.</p><p> </p><p>Defra
is not responsible for the supply of food and drink to the population in an emergency,
and the expertise, capability and levers to plan for and respond to food supply disruption
lie within the industry. However, we have well established relationships with the
food and drink sectors, and we work collaboratively with the food industry and across
Government to support coherent and robust industry contingency planning and response
in the event of an incident situation. The food industry is experienced in dealing
with scenarios that can affect food supply.</p><p> </p><p>Local authorities do not
have a general duty to provide food but have duties to provide food to particular
groups in particular circumstances, including schools and care settings. Public sector
food provision for specific sectors is led by the relevant Government departments.
Defra works with lead Departments (including DfE, DHSC and MoJ) to support their contingency
planning for food supply to public services. Defra’s role involves providing advice
and support to these departments who in turn work with their public services to ensure
that supply is resilient.</p><p> </p><p>We are committed to a strong safety net for
those who need it, which is why this Government continues to spend over £90 billion
a year on welfare benefits.</p>

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what recent
steps his Department is taking to increase collaboration between the Animal and Plant
Health Agency and veterinary regulatory authorities in other countries to tackle provision
of fake pet passports and veterinary certificates for dogs being imported into the
UK.

<p>Defra takes the issue of illegal dog and puppy imports very seriously. This is
an abhorrent trade which causes suffering to the smuggled dogs and puts the health
of pets and people in the UK at risk. Defra is working hard to tackle the problem
through a comprehensive approach that seeks to target both the supply and demand of
illegally imported dogs.</p><p> </p><p>International engagement is one aspect of this
approach. It takes place through Defra, with input from APHA intelligence and expertise.
Under Article 26 of EU Regulation 1/2005 (on the protection of animals during transport
and related operations), Defra notify Member States of the origin of the transporter
where a welfare issue with an import has been identified. We send these to notify
the Member State so that they can take remedial action to ensure that the transporter
complies in future. The notifications include details of passports and certificates.
The UK Chief Veterinary Officer (CVO) has written to her counterparts in countries
where illegally imported dogs typically originate, including (most recently) her counterparts
in Hungary and Serbia. The issue also continues to be raised and discussed at EU CVO
meetings.</p><p> </p><p> </p>

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many local
authorities in England have submitted data for 2019 on the number of licences they
have issued under the Animal Welfare (Licensing of Activities Involving Animals) (England)
Regulations 2018.

<p>Under regulation 29 of <em>The Animal Welfare (Licensing of Activities Involving
Animals) (England) Regulations 2018</em> it is a requirement for local authorities
in England to submit specified information relating to licensable activities in their
respective areas. Such information should be submitted to the Secretary of State by
31 May for each preceding year 1 April to 31 March. Local authorities have submitted
information to the Secretary of State for this year and Defra is analysing the data.
We aim to publish the information later this year.</p>